Opposition Leader Michael Dunkley last night reiterated the need for witnesses to the murder of Shaki Crockwell to come forward.

Mr. Dunkley, who is Shadow Public Safety Minister, said in a press statement: "I would like to endorse the comments by the Governor, the Premier and Colonel Burch urging the public to pass on to the Police any useful information they might have about the murder of Shaki Crockwell, and about other serious crimes committed recently.

"We in the United Bermuda Party have also warned of the threat posed to this fragile community by members of the public who sign on to a code of silence about criminals and their behaviour."

However, he added: "But in a small community like Bermuda, leadership plays an important role. It must come from the top and right now we do not have it.

"How credible is a government that on the one hand imposes a code of silence on their involvement in the Bermuda Housing Corporation scandal and a gag order on the Press and then endorses the arrest of whistleblowers, while on the other hand admonishes members of the public for not coming forward with information about the tragic murder of Mr. Crockwell and other crimes.

"I am concerned that this Government's behaviour contributes to the very code of silence they are now urging people to step away from.

"People nowadays are less willing to speak freely on public issues because of the level of intimidation stirred up by this Government.

"The Government itself has always been reluctant to come forward with information about issues of public concern, always reluctant to stand in the sunshine of public scrutiny as it once pledged to do.

"Our political leaders can't have it both ways. It's not good enough anymore to talk the talk and not walk the walk. You can't say: 'Do what I say, not what I do'.

"We have serious trust issues at play in Bermuda.

"One way to make progress on them is to make sure we have a government that practices what it preaches."

The Government chose not to comment on Mr. Dunkley's views last night.